Rematch with LSU is perfect opportunity for UGA

ATHENS, Ga. -- Second chances are rare during a college football season. As fate would have it, two Georgia players can make amends for their most miserable day of the year.

Back in September, Billy Bennett missed three field goals, and Tim Jennings gave up the winning touchdown pass in the Bulldogs' 17-10 loss to LSU.

On Saturday night, No. 5 Georgia (10-2) will get another crack at the third-ranked Tigers (11-1) in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

No one is looking forward to the rematch more than Jennings and Bennett.

"I've got another chance," Jennings said. "I didn't think I would get a second chance. I'm very thankful."

In the first game with LSU, Jennings was beaten by Skyler Green for a 34-yard touchdown catch with 1:22 remaining. The sophomore cornerback paused briefly when quarterback Matt Mauck rolled out, allowing Green to slip into the clear.

"I took it very personally," Jennings said. "I had an opportunity to make a play, but I didn't make it. I was down on myself."

So was Bennett, who had never missed three field goals in a game in his career.

It was totally unexpected. Bennett is one of the most reliable kickers in college football history, setting an NCAA record with 83 field goals.

Bennett missed from 43 yards. He missed again from 42 yards. Finally, he banged a 36-yarder off the left upright.

If those kicks had gone through the uprights, Jennings' miscue at the end might not have mattered.

Georgia rallied to tie the game at 10 when Tyson Browning took a screen pass 93 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers called a play for star receiver Michael Clayton, but Georgia foiled that plan by blitzing. Mauck avoided the rush by rolling out, while Jennings pulled up to see what was going on.

Jennings didn't have time to recover from his split-second blunder. Green was open. Mauck spotted him. Game over.

The following week, Jennings had a chance to return home to South Carolina, where friends didn't show a lot of sympathy. They kidded him mercilessly. They taunted him with a picture of Green's catch in a national magazine.

"I couldn't show that it hurt me real bad," Jennings said. "If I had, they would have stayed on me even more."

Bennett actually made his first two kicks against LSU, connecting from 33 and 43 yards. But the second one didn't count because of offsetting penalties, forcing him to try again. It was all downhill from there.

"I wasn't tough enough after the penalty," Bennett said.

Both players have been tough enough since then.

Bennett has made 19 of 22 kicks, including the last nine in a row. Coach Mark Richt would relish a chance to put the outcome of Saturday's game on his kicker's foot, which could happen in a game matching two dominating defenses. LSU has allowed the fewest points in the country, 10.6 per game; Georgia is right behind at 11.8.

"Billy is a great kicker. He's got a million records. His percentage is extremely high. He's made many, many clutch kicks for us," Richt said.

Jennings, a nickel back the first time around, started the final four games of the regular season after Decory Bryant had neck surgery. Look for LSU to attack the 5-foot-8 cornerback, trying to get him in matchups with the 6-4 Clayton.

"I know they're going after me," Jennings said. "I've got to play the man, not the ball, because he can jump higher than me. When he gets the ball, I've got to try to slap it down."

Jennings wants another chance with the game on the line. He would like nothing better than to give Georgia its second straight SEC championship -- and knock LSU out of a chance to play for the national title.

"I hope the last play comes down to me," Jennings said, "and I make the play this time."